The Best Diary
We looked at the top 7 Diaries and dug through the reviews from 13 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Diaries.
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Our Picks For The Top Diaries
- The Best Diary
- 1. UrBestSelf Mindfulness 6-Minutes Diary
- 2. Komal’s Passion Leather Vintage Handmade Leather Diary
- 3. EvZ Classic Retro Vintage Leather Diary
- 4. CAGIE Vintage Leather Locking Diary
- 5. MOLLYBEE KIDS Keep Out Dragon Locking Diary
- 6. Nomad Crafts Handmade Antique Deckle Edge Paper Diary
- 7. JunShop A5 Combination Lock Diary
Guided With Gratitude in MindYou'll find this diary is available in seven fun colors, including moss green, antique pink, turquoise and sky blue.
Handcrafted by ArtisansThis handmade genuine buffalo leather book features intricate cover designs.
Save Memories in StyleThis unique diary has an old-school vibe with a metallic decorative lock and key.
Keep Your Thoughts Private This journal requires a password to open, so your information remains confidential.
Why we recommend these diaries?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 7 Diaries and also dug through the reviews from 13 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Diaries.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
UrBestSelf Mindfulness 6-Minutes Diary
Our Take
All you need to use this diary is a pen and 6 minutes of your time. The diary is guided with five weekly questions that help you think about life in a new way. Habit trackers, weekly notes and even a monthly check are included to help keep you motivated and on track to meet your goals.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
EvZ Classic Retro Vintage Leather Diary
Our Take
Record your interesting experiences in this retro diary with a decorative key. It’s filled with 200 blank sheets of paper so it’s ideal for drawing or writing. It’s a small size so you can take it with you wherever you go.
What other experts liked
Our Diary Findings
UrBestSelf Mindfulness 6-Minutes Diary
What We Liked: All you need to use this diary is a pen and 6 minutes of your time. The diary is guided with five weekly questions that help you think about life in a new way. Habit trackers, weekly notes and even a monthly check are included to help keep you motivated and on track to meet your goals.
222290Komal’s Passion Leather Vintage Handmade Leather Diary
What We Liked: This buffalo leather diary has a stunning cover, and is filled with recycled paper. It measures 5 by 7 inches, so it’s small and portable. It contains blank paper and is perfect for writing or sketching.
155046EvZ Classic Retro Vintage Leather Diary
What We Liked: Record your interesting experiences in this retro diary with a decorative key. It’s filled with 200 blank sheets of paper so it’s ideal for drawing or writing. It’s a small size so you can take it with you wherever you go.
Our Diary Buying Guide
Whether you call it a diary, journal or notebook, this is an important tool to have. A diary is essentially what you make of it. It’s a safe place to write down your thoughts, ideas and feelings so you can reflect on them. For many people, a diary acts as a confidant where they can share confidential information without judgment. Others use a diary to record important events or experiences in their lives as a way to remember them in the years to come.
While a diary can be many things to people based on their needs, it is essentially an empty notebook with ruled or blank pages. This empty canvas provides people with the freedom to record whatever they want, however they want. Some diaries have intricate covers while others are just plain cardstock. Some come with a lock and key so you can keep your thoughts private, while others have magnetic closures or no closures at all. It all depends on how you want to use the diary.
There are many reasons to write in a diary. It’s an excellent way to become more familiar with yourself and increase self-awareness. It’s a tool that can help you make sense of complex feelings or situations. When you write down what you’re going through, you can take a step back and analyze the situation to gain more perspective.
Writing in a diary is also a good way to reduce anxiety and manage your stress. The action of writing down situations that make you feel uncomfortable can help you feel a sense of control. It can also help you to improve your memory. When you write down detailed experiences, you can free up space in your working memory.
DWYM Fun Fact
Many famous people have kept diaries. They are an interesting and engaging historical record of their thoughts, ideas and emotions. Marco Polo, the merchant and explorer, wrote a journal documenting his travels to Asia. It’s full of fascinating facts about the then-unknown parts of the world. Ludwig van Beethoven, the infamous composer, kept diaries that reveal the stories behind his compositions. It was through his diary that people learned of his deafness. Marie Curie, who was a pioneer in radioactivity research and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, kept many notebooks and journals which also include details on her research. Due to the risks of radioactivity, her journals are actually kept in lead-lined boxes for safety.
The Diary Tips and Advice
- The first thing to think of when you’re looking for a diary is how you want to use it. Is this something you will be writing confidential information in that you don’t want to share with anybody, or is it a space for you to express ideas and thoughts around a specific topic? Will you primarily be writing in your diary at home or do you want to take it with you wherever you go? Are you going to express yourself in words or are you more of an artist? Answering these questions will help you understand which kind of diary is right for you.
- The size of the diary will affect its portability. If you’re planning on tucking your diary in your backpack or purse and taking it with you all the time, then opt for a smaller one that fits snugly in your bag. If you’re planning on writing at your desk at home, you can go for a larger or heavier notebook.
- Consider whether you want ruled or plain paper. If you’re jotting down ideas or diagrams, plain paper can provide more flexibility. Ruled paper is excellent if you’re going to be journaling and writing down detailed thoughts.
- Consider how confidential your information is, and whether it requires a lock with a key or code. This way, you can be the only one to access it. You can also opt for a diary with a magnetic closure. If you want easy access at all times, opt for one that doesn’t have a closure.
- A nice feature to have in your diary is a small pen holder. That way you don’t need to rummage around for something to write with if you’ve had an epiphany. A pen holder keeps your pen in place so it’s always ready to use.
- Often, the diary’s cover can provide inspiration or set the mood for the kind of writing you want to do. You can find leather-bound, intricate covers, modern covers and those with fun images and designs.
About The Author
Anam Ahmed is a copywriter and essayist based in Toronto. She has been writing on technology, travel, parenting, and business for over 10 years, and works with a number of high-profile organizations. She values finding the best products to make people's lives easier. Anam earned an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A.H. from Queen's University. Learn more at www.anamahmed.ca.




